By Stephen V. Lansana
Freetown, Sierra Leone — June 27, 2025: The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) and FG Gold Ltd have signed a landmark Local Content Plan Implementation Agreement, signaling a renewed commitment to integrating Sierra Leonean talent, businesses, and institutions into the country’s booming mining sector.
The agreement, signed at the SLLCA’s Conference Hall in Freetown, will guide operations at FG Gold’s Baomahun Gold Project, located in Valunia Chiefdom, Bo District, and will be reviewed annually to ensure compliance and measurable progress.
SLLCA Director General, Fodeba Daboh, described the agreement as a pivotal step in enforcing the Local Content Act of 2016 within Sierra Leone’s extractive industries. “This pact formalizes FG Gold’s pledge to embed inclusive and sustainable practices in workforce development, procurement, technology transfer, and economic contributions,” Daboh stated.
The agreement will establish a transparent and enforceable roadmap to promote Sierra Leonean participation across the gold project’s value chain. FG Gold Ltd submitted a comprehensive Local Content Plan that has been approved by SLLCA.
FG Gold’s Corporate Development and Investor Relations Director, Nicola Asgill, emphasized the company’s “Local First” philosophy, highlighting that 90% of its current workforce are Sierra Leoneans, with over 55% from directly impacted communities and more than 70% being former artisanal miners.
Though the Baomahun site remains under development, Asgill noted operations are expected to begin next year, positioning the project as one of Africa’s major gold mining hubs with significant economic impact. FG Gold is already investing in workforce training, educational scholarships for STEM students from Valunia, and partnerships with universities to launch graduate internship programs.
“We will rely on the expertise of the Local Content Agency to ensure that local content is maximized in every facet of our activities,” Asgill added, assuring full implementation of the agreement.
The signing ceremony concluded with the presentation of a certificate to FG Gold Ltd for its compliance and commitment to local content development.